Natural Resource Depletion

Natural resource depletion occurs when finite natural resources—such as minerals, forests, water, and fossil fuels—are consumed faster than they can be naturally replenished. This overuse leads to shortages, environmental degradation, and long-term sustainability issues. For example, cutting down forests faster than they can regrow or mining so many minerals that reserves run out are forms of depletion. Managing resource consumption responsibly is essential to ensure their availability for future generations and to protect ecological balance.